How to Make a StarCraft 2 Map

Every great StarCraft 2 mod begins with the map – it’s where everything will take place, and more importantly, because of how the Editor functions, every StarCraft mod essentially is a map – even if there are some pretty gorramed complex maps out there. So today, we’re going to begin your lessons with a beginner’s guide to making a map of your own.

You can’t access the editor from within the game. It’s included as a separate file, so instead of opening StarCraft II, start by opening the main SC II folder (most likely this will be C:Program FilesStarcraft), and click on StarCraft II Editor. NOTE: You’ll need to log into Battlenet the first time you do this.

Now that you’ve opened the editor, you’ll see three main areas of the editor window.

That large, ugly green trapezoid on the right hand side is where, once created, you’ll find the actual map you’ll be editing. Don’t worry, that ugly pea soup green is just a place holder – you’ll be changing that shortly.

In the upper right you’ll find the mini map that gives your actual position on the edit-field.

Below the mini-map, you’ll see a selection of buttons (Foliage, water, etc). These are your various editing options – for example terrain changes, inserting units, and similar tasks – that you’ll be using to customize your map.

Zoom in – mouse over field on the right of the window, use scroll wheel.Zoom out – scroll down.Pan right/left – right click and hold.Move up/down – hold down ALT + right click

It might take a few minutes to train yourself not to get the commands confused, but trust me, once you do, it it’s incredibly intuitive. Blizzard designed a control scheme that really does have a “think-it-and-do-it” feel, and for that we hi-five them.

(MAC USERS NOTE: The controls for Mac users are only slightly different. E.G. the command button instead of cntl.)

NOTE: Choosing Custom will generate a new window, “Document Dependencies”, where you can select Liberty.SC2Mod, or Libertymulti.SC2. One governs single player play, the other multi. This will be important later, but for now, just click cancel to return to the dialogue box.

Now that you’ve chosen your Dependency, select your texture. You’ll have a lot of choices, basically every planet included in the single player campaign. To keep it comfortable, scroll down and select the first place you see during the Single Player campaign: Mara Sara (Wasteland).

Just below the main Texture drop-down, you’ll see “Initial Texture”, below which is a number of different colored squares. These are your terrain selections that will set the default terrain for your new map. For Mara Sara, you’ll have the following options:

For our map, we’re going to choose Rocky. At this point, if you like you can also play around with base, in-map height, as well as the height and width of the map grid itself. For now, let’s keep it simple and just go with the default settings for in-map, but to make things easier, shrink the dimensions of the map grid. We went with 160 X 160. Click OK to create your new map. Now, you’re ready to begin playing god.

Now we’ll need to get your triggers set up. Go back to the Modules drop-down and choose “triggers”.

The file folder that pops up will have one option: Melee Initialization. Click it, and on the right hand side, you’ll see a brand new sub menu. Events is pretty straightforward. Below that, you’ll be able to select some from the Actions sub-menu. This is where you’ll set up resources and units for all players.

We’re still new to this ourselves and we’ll want to keep it simple, so let’s concentrate on “Start The Melee AI for all Computer Players.” Delete or disable the other actions, and close the window to go back to your map.

Now that you’ve added some basic units and variation, it’s time to see how it plays. Along the top of the window, on the right hand side, you’ll see a “SC” button. Click that to see how your map plays in game.

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18 Comments on How to Make a StarCraft 2 Map

Migueldofly

On August 18, 2010 at 5:15 pm

Awesome ! Thanks. Will be spending the next week or so creating killer maps.

death

On September 1, 2010 at 9:39 am

awesome thanks a bunch

Akeora

On September 14, 2010 at 11:48 am

hey good job, I was just wondering though, how do you delete a map? I deleted it from the location it was saved, and also removed it from being published but it still shows up in Versus A.I., is there a certain folder that has it? How can I access it? Thanks a bunch

Potanis

On September 24, 2010 at 6:12 am

that’s awesome, but i have one question, how do you delete stuff? (besides undo)

Eddy

On November 6, 2010 at 5:06 am

thankz a bunch but how do u publish it to play on SC2

Kenji

On December 11, 2010 at 1:43 pm

mine wont work and how do u share with sc2

ned lew

On December 13, 2010 at 3:27 pm

i new how to get it on warcraft 3 but couldnt find it thanks

Tom

On March 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm

It helped me a lot but when i went to test it by pressing the SC button it would say that i won when i didnt do anything…

Bug

On March 26, 2011 at 8:09 am

i have e a question, so is there a way that u can change what a unit looks like? like make a archon look like a missile turret? or make a building like a barracks porduce archons that look like missile turrets? well if u know tell me

Smarwell

On April 13, 2011 at 3:41 pm

thanks for the info but when i hit the sc2 button to test the map it just minimizes the editor window without doing anything…

Billy

On May 17, 2011 at 10:54 am

thats awersome, but how do you delete buildings, units, ect. without using undo? and how do you do the trigger thing? also, when i play it, it says i won once it starts, why? plz respond.

Cory

On October 12, 2011 at 6:05 pm

I can do all of that but as soon as i start it it just says i tied and i have never been able to get farther than that. what did i do wrong that i can do to fix it?

Cory

On October 12, 2011 at 6:14 pm

When i set everything up right, how come the computer wont do anything, his probes, workers will not move and start building or gathering minnerals?

billy

On October 24, 2011 at 6:40 am

holy ing what a colosoling waste of a post you litterly tought nothing….. noob

Aryan

On November 8, 2011 at 12:51 pm

TanX It was very Usefull
but
ive Got an other Q.
where should I Save Those maps ???

Aryan

On November 8, 2011 at 1:52 pm

!!! IF ANY ONE WHO HAS THE PROB. WHIT UNITS WORKIN !!!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Those posts Were good but not excellent
CZ. you just Turn off the activeness of your enemy
but u have to make them Active by writing the right things in
Melee Initialization
if u do this
All of the workers and the enemy units will be active
if u want more help
VISIT
http://www.blizzard.com
sigh up there and go to the from and U will fine what u need

Aryan

On November 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm

sorry it has a lot of mistakes

Riptide

On December 12, 2011 at 6:28 am

Ok thenks pretty much dude but i want to create a map like where i fight an AI and weboth construct buildingns annd we fight etc. how to do an AI that is trying to kill me?? when i make a hive a nexus or a command centre the wont do anything they just stand at one place till i kill them?/

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